To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

To be a true disciple of Jesus Christ means that we will make the commitment to faithfully read and study His Word and then obey what the Lord has said to us. The person who holds to the teaching of our Lord will be a person who will be able to discern the truth through obedience and careful study of His Word. The more one obeys the Lord and draws close to Him, the more one is able to know and walk in the truth.

When we know the truth and walk in the truth, that truth will set us free, because we are living out the life that God originally intended for us. If we give in to believing a lie, that lie will keep us bound. Jesus goes on to say that he who sins is a slave to sin. The enemy of your soul would have you believe all of hell’s lies through deception and temptation. Satan will try to tempt you with always taking the easy way out and tempt you to do what feels good just for the moment. There is a battle raging between flesh and spirit and when we walk in obedience to our Lord, that sets the stage for us to walk in the beautiful freedom of serving Him and living out what we were created to be.

I am challenged to hold to the teachings of Jesus and know the truth that sets me free. I am free when I move in harmony with my Creator. He created me, He knows what’s best for me, and I can always trust that when I surrender to His will for my life, that this is the place of true freedom. There’s a freedom in fasting and praying for people who need my prayers. There’s a freedom in knowing I have obeyed the Lord fully with my life.

There’s a freedom in serving my wife and children by listening to them and being sensitive to their needs. There’s a freedom that comes from serving and pastoring the people God has entrusted into my care. There’s a freedom in counseling people who desperately need the wisdom of God in their choices. There’s even freedom found in saying the difficult words of loving confrontation when someone’s going off on their own and need to be confronted with the truth of God’s Word. Knowing the truth is so liberating and I want to stay in that place of freedom that comes from walking with Almighty God.

Thank You, Lord Jesus for calling me to a life of freedom through discipleship. I set my heart to continue in your Word and teachings and to know the truth that sets me free. Thank You for reminding me today that freedom is found not in doing what I want to do, but in serving You and cooperating with the building of your kingdom in the hearts of your people. Help me to give up my life for your sake, for it is only then that I truly find my life.